Nashville Airport Lounges: What to Know - NerdWallet (2024)

Nashville is one of the most popular destinations for live music and bachelorette parties. With its growing popularity, Nashville International Airport (BNA) had more than 20 million passengers fly through its airport in 2023.

If you're considering a visit to "Music City," relax and enjoy extra amenities at one of the Nashville airport lounges before heading out. Learn more about the airport lounges at BNA, what they offer and how you gain access to them.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

About Nashville airport lounges

BNA is a hub for Southwest Airlines, which isn't known for offering premium benefits like airport lounges. However, BNA is serviced by numerous domestic and international airlines, so there are lounges at Nashville Airport that travelers can enjoy.

Most lounges are restricted to passengers of specific airlines, but Priority Pass options are also available to all travelers, regardless of carrier.

🤓Nerdy Tip

While you can buy a Priority Pass membership, many premium travel credit cards include Priority Pass memberships or day passes as a complimentary benefit.

The airport is divided into four concourses, depending on which airline you're flying. Passengers can walk between concourses to take advantage of its lounge options.

Concourse A: No lounges

You won't find any lounges in BNA's Concourse A. Though this concourse serves a variety of airlines — including Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, which do operate their own lounges at other airports — none offer a Nashville airport lounge.

If your gate is in this part of the airport, walk to one of the other concourses to access an eligible lounge.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

Concourse B: Delta Sky Club

When flying out of Concourse B, the only Nashville Airport lounge available is the Delta Sky Club, which recently completed a renovation to almost quadruple in size.

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Delta Sky Club

The Delta Sky Club lounge in Nashville Airport recently underwent a renovation that finished in 2022. The renovation added over 10,000 square feet and nearly 200 seats for guests to enjoy. It offers complimentary Wi-Fi plus premium food, spirits and liquor at no charge, including an extensive assortment of regional whiskies, bourbons and ryes.

Guests can enter this Nashville airport lounge up to three hours prior to departure time. However, passengers with basic economy tickets do not have access to the lounge.

» Learn more: Delta basic economy vs. main cabin

When flying on Delta or one of its partners, travelers can access the Delta Sky Club with a Delta Sky Club membership, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Terms apply.

Travelers with Delta Medallion elite status also receive free entry when traveling internationally on an eligible ticket, like Delta One or similar class on a partner airline.

» Learn more: Which Delta Air Lines credit card should you get?

Concourse C: American Airlines Admirals Club and Priority Pass restaurant

There are two lounges at Nashville Airport in Concourse C. The first is the American Airlines Admirals Club lounge, which is primarily for passengers flying on American Airlines, and the other is a Priority Pass restaurant.

While many premium credit cards offer Priority Pass benefits, there are only two currently available that include dining credits.

American Airlines Admirals Club

  • Located near Gate C15.

  • Must present a boarding pass to enter.

  • Open to eligible American Airlines passengers and Oneworld travelers and certain American Airlines-branded card holders.

Visitors to the Admirals Club from American Airlines receive complimentary Wi-Fi, food and drinks during their stay. This Nashville airport lounge also offers a full-service bar where guests can order premium food and drinks for an extra fee.

Complimentary admission is available to travelers on American Airlines and Oneworld flights with Admirals Club membership, ConciergeKey members and AirPass members with Admirals Club® privileges.

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You'll also receive free admission if you are the primary cardholder of a Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® who is flying on American or a partner airline.

When you fly first or business class on international, transcontinental or domestic flights, you can also get into the lounge for free. Travelers with AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro or AAdvantage Platinum elite status can also enter for free when flying on any American Airlines flight.

American Airlines also extends club access to Oneworld elite status Emerald and Sapphire members on any American or Oneworld flight.

If you don't qualify based on the other methods, one-day passes can be purchased for $79 or 7,900 AAdvantage miles if there's space available.

This fee is waived for active duty military traveling in uniform and their immediate family (or two guests) when flying on American Airlines.

400 Degrees Hot Chicken

  • Located near Gate C19

  • Available for all travelers, but must show a boarding pass to use Priority Pass benefits.

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One of Nashville's most popular dishes is hot chicken, and it's now available at the airport. Travelers can test the strength of their stomach with spicy chicken or choose from any number of breakfast, lunch and dinner options. 400 Degrees Hot Chicken also serves craft co*cktails, beer and other drinks.

This restaurant is open to the public, but eligible Priority Pass members receive $28 per person in dining credits. Some cardholders are grandfathered in, but the only cards that include Priority Pass restaurant benefits that are open to new applicants are the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Capital One Venture X Business.

If your card is eligible, you must activate your Priority Pass membership before you can redeem the credits.

» Learn more: Things to know about Priority Pass lounges

Concourse D: Priority Pass and USO

You'll find limited Nashville airport lounges in Concourse D. Minute Suites is a Priority Pass lounge that is also available to the general public. Plus, the USO offers active duty military and their families a place to relax and enjoy light snacks.

Minute Suites

  • Located near Gate D3.

  • No boarding pass is required for entry.

  • Open to all travelers. Eligible Priority Pass members receive one hour free.

Minute Suites offers five private retreats for travelers to escape from the noise and hustle of the airport. Although this Nashville airport lounge doesn't offer showers, guests can nap, watch TV, work or take calls in their dedicated space.

Rooms include free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, a workstation and a comfortable daybed. Unlike other lounges, complimentary drinks and food are not included. However, Minute Suites offers a limited assortment of drinks, snacks and travel essentials for sale.

Travelers can enter Minute Suites Nashville by renting rooms by the hour or in 15-minute increments. Walk-ups are accepted, or you can reserve a room online. Prices start at $55 for one hour of $13.75 for each 15-minute increment.

On-site discounts are available for flight crews and active military. Eligible Priority Pass members receive one hour for free, and additional time is charged a discounted $34 per hour.

USO Lounge

  • Located near Gate D1.

  • No boarding pass is required for entry.

  • Restricted to active duty military and their families.

USO Lounges are reserved for active duty military and their families to relax before or after a flight. The USO Lounge at Nashville airport offers complimentary coffee, snacks, Wi-Fi, television and video games. Space is limited, so this lounge restricts its capacity to just 40 guests at a time.

» Learn more: Best credit cards for active-duty military

Final thoughts on the lounges at Nashville Airport

While BNA is a smaller regional airport, it offers airport lounges from two major carriers plus two Priority Pass options.

The Nashville airport lounges are an excellent way to enjoy complimentary drinks, food, Wi-Fi and entertainment if your flight, elite status or credit card benefits provide access.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024:

  • Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

  • No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

  • Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

  • Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

  • Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

  • Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Nashville Airport Lounges: What to Know - NerdWallet (2024)
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